World’s Highest Rail Bridge: Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest rail bridge will soon see train services
Good news coming from Kashmir! The Chenab Rail Bridge in Reasi district will soon see trains running on it. Soaring some 359 m above the Chenab River, it is the highest rail bridge in the world. The bridge is a fine example of human intelligence. This engineering marvel will help overcome daunting geographical obstacles to create a landmark of modern infrastructure and connectivity.
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But the news here is that the Northern Railway has announced that very soon the train service from Ramban to Reasi will pass over the world’s highest railway bridge. As of now, trains operate along the Kanyakumari to Katra route, with services running from Baramulla to Sangaldan in the Kashmir Valley.
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Vishesh Mahajan, Reasi’s Deputy Commissioner, told ANI, “This is an extraordinary engineering feat. The day when trains start running to Reasi will be transformative for the district. Our engineers have achieved a marvel—it’s the eighth wonder of the world. The bridge’s construction, resilience against wind speeds, all are remarkable. While an exact date remains uncertain, we eagerly await its opening.”
Railway officials have recently conducted thorough inspections of the newly constructed railway line and stations between Sangaldan in Ramban district and Reasi.Sujay Kumar, Deputy Chief Engineer of Konkan Railways, described the project as highly challenging. “The affected communities are very pleased. We anticipate completion in the near future,” he remarked.
Some quick interesting facts about the bridge:
1) Each side of this globally acclaimed structure measures approximately one-fourth the size of a football field.
2) A total of 30,000 metric tons of steel were used in the construction of the Chenab Rail Bridge.
3) This bridge was built at a cost of ₹14,000 crore.
4) It is engineered to endure extreme conditions, including temperatures as low as -40°C and seismic activity.
5) Additionally, it can withstand wind speeds of up to 260 km/h.
Phase I of the project, covering the 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section, commenced in October 2009. Subsequent phases included the inauguration of the 18 km Banihal-Qazigund section in June 2013 and the 25 km Udhampur-Katra section in July 2014.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the USBRL project, including the 48.1 km Banihal-Sangaldan section, on February 20, 2024.
